One of the puzzling folklore: why the dead sing opera

One, is to honor the gods. Ancient Chinese people are very worshipful of the gods, where there is a major event at home, we have to honor the gods, in order to pray for the gods to help, of course, the funeral can be involved with the gods to go, because people hope that the gods and the Buddha will be able to attract their loved ones to the world of bliss. Therefore, in the handling of funeral affairs, honoring the gods and worshipping the Buddha is an indispensable part of the process. That is why we have to sing opera to honor the gods. When the opera is sung, the first performance is the "Divine Opera" (commonly known as the Stomping Opera). In this opera, there will be seven actors playing the role of gods and goddesses, the first to appear is: Black Tiger, wearing a black winged crown, black face, wearing black, holding a steel whip. His face in the opera symbolizes a strong nature. In the opera line, he belongs to the Pure, or Flower Face. He is a general who opens the way for the gods. He was modeled after Zhao Gongming in the Feuding God Romance. Later, he was ordained as a god by Jiang Ziya, and is the path-opening god of Taoism. The second one is:Linguan. Red face, wearing a red bag and a red crown. Mighty and solemn . Holds a precious pestle in his hand. Can subdue demons and avoid evil spirits. His face symbolizes loyalty and righteousness in opera. He belongs to the Red Sheng in the opera line. Lingguan is a Taoist deity. There are five hundred Taoist Spirit Guan. Among them, the most famous one is "Wang Linguan", who is usually the guardian of the gate in the first hall of many Taoist temples. The third one is the famous Taoist Immortal: the Heavenly Official of Bestowing Blessings. He wears an official hat and a court dress, and holds a guard plate in his hand. He wears a jade belt around his waist, and belongs to the Bearded Sheng in the opera business. Taoism enshrines the three gods of heaven, earth and water, of which Tian Guan is one. The name of the heavenly official is the first grade of the heavenly official who bestows blessings, Zi Wei Da Di, belonging to the realm of Yu Qing. Tian Guan is formed by the three qi of green, yellow and white, and is in charge of the emperors and kings of the heavens. On the fifteenth day of the first month, they come down to the earth to determine the sins and blessings of people, so they are called "Heavenly Officials Bestowing Blessings". In the old days, it was used as an auspicious word for praying for blessings and eliminating disasters. After the Heavenly Officials come to the stage, they have to say a few words of blessing to the host's family. This is the so-called "Heavenly Officials Give Good Fortune". People hoped that they would be blessed by this. Because the ancients believed that a funeral in the family was a sign of bad luck, it was common to write obituaries with the words, "The orphaned son (or the son in mourning) serves without a trace of misfortune," to show that he or she had been struck by a misfortune. It is hoped that the heavenly officials can change the following luck of one's family, so the heavenly officials should be invited. The fourth is: Guan Shiyin Bodhisattva on the stage, she is dressed in white, known as the white priest, hand carrying a willow vase. She belongs to the Dan role in the opera. She is from the Buddhist sect, usually in the stage of the speech, to state their own identity, that is: "live in the South China Sea to put the body, I am the South China Sea Master Guanyin, Buddhist disciples of the heart of charity, disciples of the spirit of worship three times." Guanyin Bodhisattva is the universally believed Buddha in our country, so she has a high status in people's heart, she is known for her great kindness and compassion, so people hope that she can bless the master's family a little. In addition, Guanyin Bodhisattva is also one of the Three Saints of the West, and people who believe in Buddhism hope that she can help Amitabha Buddha to guide the deceased to the Elysium. The fifth person on the stage is the Eunuch of the Land, who wears a nine-dragon crown on his head, a yellow bagua suit, and a dragon-headed walking stick in his hand. White eyebrows and white beard, an old man. In the opera line belongs to the old man. He is in charge of the local officials of the yin and yang, so it must be invited out to worship, because according to superstition after the death of the dead, it is the land in charge of the city god, said the county officials as well as the current management, so the god to be very respectful. The sixth is: Zaojun, wearing a green robe, holding a duster. He belongs to the opera line of Taoist robes. He is a deity worshipped by every household in the country, and is called the "Lord of the House". He is ordered by the Jade Emperor to check on the people's behavior and speech, so if there is something wrong in the family, you must give Zaojun Bodhisattva preferential treatment. The last one on the stage is Liu Hai, the God of Wealth, who wears a black lab coat and carries a golden bucket in his hand. His movements on stage are clean and sharp. He is a martial artist in the opera business. According to the history book: "Liu Hai was born with immortal roots, born in Tuxian Quhou village, the Jade Emperor will be my pro-seal over, sealing my four sides of the living God of Fortune, the water of the Fountain of Fortune to spread the earth, walking step by step to spread the money, a change of ten to a hundred change of a thousand, there are blessings and fortunes are immortal." This is a folk song about Liu Hai, the God of Wealth, which has been passed down among the people of Tuxian County, the "Ancestral Court of Taoism". He usually comes to the stage and scatters money (coins prepared in advance, i.e., grass flowers). People should hope that this will make them rich.

Prior to the singing of the god's play, the cannon is usually set off, and in the process of the god's play, the host family will go on stage to put on the red quilt for each "god". On the stage burning incense and wine. The first is to make offerings to the gods and goddesses.

Two, but also to pay tribute to the need. In our country in ancient times, on the prevalence of rituals and music system. That is to say, the time to make a gift should be accompanied by music. My hometown is called "Zhou Gong hometown", is the first Saint Zhou Gong "rituals and music" place. Therefore, we attach great importance to the rites and music system. Inviting Qinqiang to participate in the rituals is also in line with the requirements of the ritual and music system. Therefore, it is usually written in the ritual text that "with the elegant music of Qinqiang ......... The rituals..." ..." is usually written in the ritual text. In addition, in the funeral theater, the crying sound drama is usually the main, in order to play the effect of the sacrifice. The plays usually staged are: "Sacrifice of the Spirit", "Zhu Chundeng Crying at the Tomb", "Zhou Ren Crying at the Tomb", "Zhuge Liang Sacrificing the Lamp", and other weeping sound operas related to sacrifices. As well as some of the classics related to mourning, such as: "Down to Hedong * Catch the frame" in the fifty-six "weeping", "beheading Li Guang" in the seventy-two "can not". The theater is also a place where the classic songs and plays are performed to create the effect of mourning. In addition, some divine plays such as "Returning Wishes at Xiangshan Temple" and "The Black Tiger Sitting on the Stage" are also staged to comfort the gods. In addition, "The Three Ladies Teaching Their Children" and "The Book of Four Wise Men" are staged to illustrate how the deceased taught their children well during their lifetime. The last play is often "The Great Promotion" or "The Great Ascension" to foretell the master's family's promotion and fortune. It is also a kind of spiritual support, so the repertoire of the funeral is very elaborate, not just in the play, those comedic plays will not be staged. So the singing of plays is for rituals, not entertainment, and this should be clear.

Third, in order to continue to fulfill filial piety. Because the elderly in Shaanxi almost always love to watch Qinqiang opera, the sons and daughters want to be able to watch the opera once in a while when their loved ones leave home. Even if it is the return of the soul, but also to fulfill the filial piety of sons and daughters. So during the funeral process, passing by the land shrine and crossroads, and stopping for mourning, they all sing opera, hoping that their loved ones can watch it for a little while longer. ?Walk slowly.

Four, in order to drive away evil spirits. In ancient times, it was believed that in the process of handling the funeral, because of the number of people coming, coupled with the burning of paper at home, commonly known as burning paper to attract ghosts. Will lead to bad omen. So hope that singing opera can drive away evil spirits, because the black tiger in the divine opera, Lingguan is the gods and goddesses to drive away evil spirits. In addition, singing opera accompanied by music and drums, also has the function of driving away evil spirits.

Fifth, white singing can reflect a fraternity. The ancients said: "old as we are old and people's old". Because the old people love to watch the opera, so because their own old man died, they can not be in the filial piety. So take this opportunity to sing an opera, so that the old people from all over the world to see the opera, add the following their spiritual life, because the rural elderly is very few opportunities to enjoy the cultural and artistic programs. So it is a kind of "fraternity" to be able to spend money on singing for the living elderly.

Besides, it is also to increase the solemnity of the following funeral ceremony to attract more condolence guests. Should be in accordance with the tradition of the old mourning should be treated grandly, in order to reflect filial piety, but not here to advocate "thin support thick funeral". To loved ones should be filial piety in life, after the death of the funeral ceremony must be the program should be engaged in, either, there is no a material carrier to send condolences, of course, thrift is also necessary. Should abolish some of the mundane red tape. This should also be based on the person due to customs and beliefs. It is not to be taken lightly.